Grip



Dec. 20, 1932. T. BIRKQENMAIER I 1,891,497

- GRIP Filed May 15. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG]:

Dec. 20, 1932. 'r. BIRKENMAIER 1,891,497

GRIP

Filed May 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED.STATES THEODORE BIIB'KENMAIEB, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB-TO' W.MATTHEWS PATENT: OFFICE CORPORATION, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ACORPORATION OF MISSOURI GRIP Application filed May 15,

' This invention relates to grips, and with regard to certain morespecific features to grips for guying and fastening wire, rope, cableand similar strands.

Among the Several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofan improved grip which is adapted to guy and/or fasten wire, rope,cable, and similar strands; the provision of a grip of the classdescribed, which is adapted to tightly grip a cable passing therethroughand which is easily applied to, removable from, and adjustable on thestrand; and, the provision of a grip of the class described which isreenforced at contacting points and which is simple and cheap tomanufacture. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointedout hereinafter. p

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations ofelements, fea tures of construction,'and arrangements of parts whichwill .be exemplified in the structure "hereinafter described, and thescope of the application of which will be indicated in the followingclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated two of variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig.1 is a perspective view showingrthe invention applied to a twistedservice cable;

Fig. 2 is a detailed and enlarged top plan view of one form of theinvention applied to a cable;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged rear elevatlon of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Flg. 2 showing a modification of'the grip;

Fig.6 is a front elevation of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is arear elevation of Fig. '5 and,

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 7.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Strand, such as shown in Fig.1 at numeral 1 strung "between a .pole anda "house or between other such objects, subjects its ter-- minals 3 tostrain, such that the terminals are required 'to be unnecessarily largeto effectively resist the-strains. Larger termi- 1931.- Serial no.537,654.

meral 19 which'are fastened at one end to the wire 1, and at theotherend to a suitable anchor or the like 11. In this way substan-' tiallyall pulling is removed from the terminals 3 and the guys Q'assume theweight and pull of the wire 1.

I have provided an improved grip 9 for the cables 1. such as describedand shown in Fig. 1, which is easily applied to the strand 1, which iseasy and cheap to manufacture, and which provides a positive grip aroundthe strand 1 under all loads, increased load effecting tighter gripping.v I

Referring now more particularly to Figs 2 through 1, there is shown apreferred form of a grip 9 of the invention applied to the strand 1. Itis to be understood that the term strand as used in this specificationin-' cludes all materials used as strands, and accordingly includesplain and twisted service cable, rope, cable, wire and the like.

The grip 9 is formed by looping a wire 12. The wire is weatherproof andis preferable relatively limber and formed from a plurality of twistedstrandsas shown in Fig. 4. The multiple strand is more flexible than asingle strand havingtthe same strength. A single wire may be used,however, in certain instances. are overlapped and joined as shown atnumeral 13, 'by' solder or by pinching a metal bandtherearound. Theoverlapped portion of the wire 12 as shown at numeral 15' provides ananchoring portion. The portion .15 is also one end of the main Sloopformed'by joining the ends of the wire 12. The opposite end 17 of'themain loop is-looped'twice to form the loops 21f andu23, each-loop-comprising two passes .of wire 12. 'The outer leads from the loops21 and '23 respectively terminate at the end 17 and at the portion 18 ofthe main loop. Thelatter'portion 18 is drawn through the end 17 whichforms :a noosezand grip. Thus :by pullingonthe handle 15, both of theend leadsfof the loops 21 Juxtaposed ends of the wire 12 and 23 arepulled and consequently the loops are made smaller.

The loops 21 and 23 may be formed over a molding rod or the like whichpreferably is slightly larger than the wire for which the grip 9 is tobe used as a guy.

The application of the grip 9 to a strand such as 1, is as follows:

The loops 21 and 23 are slipped over the end of the strand 1 before itisfastened to the terminal 3. Inasmuch as the loops are manufactured indifferent sizes, a size is chosen which readily slips over the.strand 1. If however, the strandl is larger than the loops 21 and 23 thelead 18 is pushed back through the noose 17 and'the loops made largeenough to receive the strand '1. The handle is now anchored, as shown atnumeral 11, and the pull of the handle on the lead 18, pulls the leadthrough the noose 17 whereby both of the loops 21 and 23 are tightenedaround the cable 1. Thus the end of the strand 1 is relievedof pull andmay be readily fastened to the terminal 3.

The friction created by the pressure of the four passes of wire l2around the strand 1 is ample to provide a substantially non-slippinggrip between the grip 9 and the strand 1. In the event, however, thatmuch smaller strands are to be guy'ed,'especially if such strands arenot insulated, it may be expedient to provide more loops such as 21 and23 to effect sufficient friction between the grip 9 and the strand 1.

The wire 12 from which the grip 9 is formed is preferably sufiicientlystiff to maintain the shape of the loops 21 and 23 after they are formedon the mold or the like.

An advantage of the grip 9 as illustrated in Figs. 2 through 1 is thesimple, strong construction and the wide range of adjustment whichisprovided by slipping the lead 18 through the noose 17. Thus, althoughthe grips 9 are preferably made up for definite sizes, if the varioussizes are not available at the time of installation on the cable 1, theloops 21 and 23 may be enlarged at the time of installation.

Another advantage is the reenforced or doubled portion of the grip 9provided at strategic points. Thus the handle 15 has double passes ofthe wire 12 and likewise each loop 21 and 23 has double passes.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 5 through 8, the grip 9comprises a set of two wires 12, the ends of which are overlapped andfastened as shown at numerals 13, whereby a large loop is formed. Thewire 12 is similar to that used in the Fig. 2 modification. The ends, asshown in Fig. 5 are fastened by means of metal bands 29 pressed tofirmly hold the wire ends together. It is to be understood that the endsmay be joined in any'other suitable way such as for instance by solderor the like. The single loop formed by joining the ends of the wires 12is divided into two loops, by a band 30, similar to the bands joiningthe ends of the wires 12. One of the loops thus formed, and having thefour passes, is adapted to be anchored or otherwise secured as at hooks11. The other loop 18 is twisted and looped to form the loop 31. Theleads 33 and 35 from the loop 31 pass through the band and form thehandle 25. Thus a pull on the handle25, pulls the leads 33 and 35 andtends to tighten or reduce the loop 31. The band, 30 serves to maintainthe correct shape of the grip 9 prior to its application to a strand 1.

As in the other modification the loop 31 is formed around a moldingstrand or rod which is preferably larger than the strand 1 for whigh thegrip 9 is to be used. When the grip 9 is slipped over the strand 1, theloop 25 as before is 'secured'to a hook 11. It is noted that the fourpasses of strand over the top of the loop 25 provide an even strongerhandle than the two passes provide in the handle 15. q

The band 30 may be so positioned that the loop 17 is large enough toform more than one loop 31 in the event that more frictional contact isdesired between the strand 1 and the grip 9.

It is to be understood that the method with which the loop 31 is formedmaybe varied. Thus the wires 12 maybe looped, with or without the aid ofa mold and prior to the application of the bands 29 and 30. Like wisethe number of wires12 may be varied to meet the requirements of thegrip.

An advantage of the last-described modification is the fact that a'plurality of wires 12 may be easily used toprovide a grip 9 adapted forextra heavy duty. This greater strength is further enhanced by the factthat there are no sharp turns in the grip 9, at which a force is allapplied on a relatively small area. The band 30 is made sufficientlylarge to distribute the forces it receives over a relatively large area.V

A further advantage of the invention of both modifications is that theyare adapted to be used on any type of wire 1. Thus in Fig. 2 a twistedinsulated strand 1 is shown, whereas in Fig. 5 the wire l is single anduninsulated. Usually,'if the strand 1 is insulated, a grip 9 havingfewer gripping loops may be used because of the greater friction offeredby the insulation.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects ofv theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results. attained. i p

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructionswithout depart-- ing from the scope of the invention, it is intendedthat all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture a grip comprising a multiple strand, anoose formed with said strand, and a loop also formed with said strand,one lead of said loop terminating with said noose and the other lead ofsaid loop passing through said noose, said strand being formed from wireadapted to hold a shape, and said loop being adapted to receive and gripa strand to be guyed and passing therethrough.

2. As an article of manufacture a grip comprising a multiple strand, anoose formedwith said strand, and a loop also formed with said strand,one lead of said loop terminating with said noose and the other lead ofsaid loop passing through said noose, said strand being formed from wireadapted to retain a preformed shape, and said loop being adapted toreceive and grip a strand to be guyed and passing therethrough, saidgripping action being enhanced by pull on said lead passing through saidnoose.

3. As an article of manufacture a grip comprising a strand, the ends ofsaid strand bein joined whereby a length of double strand is formed, atleast one loop formed with the end of said double strand opposite saidjoined ends, one of the leads of said loop being the end of said doublestrand, the other lead from said loop passing through a noose formed bythe end of said double strand, said loop being adapted to receive andgrip a strand to be guyed and passing tlierethrough, said grippingaction being enhanced by pulling on said joined ends. 7

l. As an article of manufacture a grip comprising a multiple strandformed from relatively stiff wire, the ends of said strand being joinedwhereby a length of double strand is formed, at least one loop formedwith the end of said double strand opposite said joined.

ends, one of the leads of said loop being the end of said double strand,the other lead from said loop passing through a noose formed by the endof said double strand, said loop being adapted to receive and grip astrand to be guyed and passing therethrough, said gripping action beingenhanced by pulling on said joined ends and said joined ends beingoverlapped to form a reenforced handle portion.

5. As an article of manufacture a grip com prising a multiple strandformed from relatively stifi wire, the ends of said strand being joinedwhereby a length of double strand is formed, a plurality of loops formedwith the end of said double strand opposite said oined ends, one endlead of said loops being the end of said double strand, the other endlead from said loops passing through a noose formed by the end of saiddouble strand, said loops being adapted to receive and grip a strand tobe guyed and passing therethrough.

6. As an article of manufacture a grip comprising a multiple strandformed from relatively stiff wire, the ends of said strand being joinedwhereby a length of double strand is formed, a plurality of loops formedwith the end of said double strand opposite said joined ends, one endlead of said loops being the end of said double strand, the other endlead from said loops passing through a noose formed by the end of saiddouble strand, said loops being adapted to receive and grip a strandpassing therethrough, said loops being adapted to resist deformationwhen a strand is not passed therethrough. I

7. As an article of manufacture, a grip comprising a strand, theportionsnear the ends of said strand being'joined to form a supporting loop, agripping loop formed by an extension of the strand from the supportingloop, said gripping loop comprising leads completely surrounding astrand to be guyed and helically arranged thereon to effect a tighteninggrip on the guyed strand when it is supported by said gripping loop.

8. As an article of manufacture, a grip comprising a strand, theportions near the ends of said strand being overlapped and joined toform a supporting loop, said sup porting loop thus comprising morestrands than the remainder of the article, a gripping loop formed by anextension of the strand from the supporting loop, said gripping loopcomprising leads completely surrounding a strand to be guyed andhelically arranged thereon to effect a tightening on the guyed strandwhen it is supported by said gripping loop.

9. As an article of manufacture, a grip comprising'a strand, theportions near the ends of said strand being joined to form a supportingloop, a gripping loop formed by an extension of the strand from thesupporting loop, said gripping loop comprising leads completelysurrounding a strand to be guyed and helically arranged thereon toeffect a tightening on the guyed strand when it is supported by saidgripping'loop, said gripping loop comprising substantially one turnabout the guyed wire.

10. As an article of manufacture, a grip comprising a strand, theportions near the ends of said strand being joined to form a supportingloop, a gripping loop formed by an extension of the strand from thesupporting loop, said gripping loop comprising leads completelysurrounding a strand to be guyed and helically arranged thereon toeffect a tightening on the guyed strand when it is supported by saidsupporting loop, said gripping loop comprising a plurality of turnsabout said guyed wire.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this11th day of d

